#WearAMask to continue to keep WV safe and strong

RCCC Information Update

The Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce remains here to serve you as we navigate the ever-changing business climate during the Covid-19 pandemic. All Chamber team members are currently working 9am-5pm M-F, however; in order to comply with the CDC’s recommendations and to help stop the spread of the coronavirus disease, we ask that you reach us by email and/or phone only at [email protected] or 304-252-7328 (Please leaver a message if we do not answer immediately as we are regularly checking voicemail)At this time all in-person Chamber meetings, Business After Hours, Ribbon Cuttings and events in March and April are postponed, canceled or have transitioned to conference calls/virtual meetings.

Thank you to our community of citizens, business owners, essential workers, healthcare workers, emergency service personnel, government officials and leaders across all faith based and non-profit organizations for working creatively throughout this pandemic. We are working toward better days ahead because of your commitment to following the guidelines set forth by the CDC and our Governor. We are West Virginia Strong and we are Raleigh County Strong!

#WearAMask

Display a #WearAMask sign at your business

Pick up a sign at Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce Office at 245 North Kanawha Street in Beckley WV

Make arrangements to have a sign delivered to your business by calling 304-252-7328 or emailing [email protected]

We’re all excited to get back to business and begin resuming our daily schedules. As we phase back, the Chamber is asking employers, employees and consumers to #doyourpart and continue with the CDC recommended safety precautions so that we don’t take steps back. Dr Ayne Amjad designed the hashtag #wearamask and printed these signs for businesses to place in their windows.

West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner would like the public to be aware of the changes in dates and deadlines for the 2020 Primary Election, which will now be held on June 9.

Important Dates and Deadlines:
• April 24, 2020 – County Clerk begins sending ballots to absentee voters.
• May 19, 2020 – Deadline to register to vote
• May 27 – June 6, 2020 – Early Voting at the county courthouse, annex or designated community voting location during normal business hours and Saturdays 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
• June 3, 2020 – Deadline to request an absentee ballot for all voters. Absentee applications received after June 3, even if postmarked, cannot be accepted by law.
• June 2, 2020 - June 8, 2020 – Official List of Candidates or Sample Ballot published in local newspapers throughout the state (publication dates will vary by county).
• June 8, 2020 – Deadline to hand-deliver Absentee Ballot to County Clerk’s office.
• June 9, 2020 – Primary Election Day
• June 10, 2020 – Absentee Ballots mailed, but without a postmark accepted.
• June 15, 2020 – (Canvass) – Absentee Ballot postmarked by Election Day accepted if received by start of Canvass.

None of the CARES Act benefits, nor unemployment benefits of any kind, are available to employees who quit without good work-related cause, refuse to return to work, or refuse to receive full-time pay. Refusing to return to work could result in a disqualification for benefit eligibility. Attempts to collect unemployment benefits after quitting a job without good work-related cause is considered to be fraud. The CARES Act specifically provides for serious consequences for fraudulent cases including fines, confinement, and an inability to receive future unemployment benefits until all fraudulent claims and fines have been repaid.

Take the COVID-19 Impact Surveys and be entered to win a $1,250 Business Support Grant! We need your help understanding the impact this virus has had on our region and state. Fill out the surveys and learn more here: https://nrgrda.org/covid-impact/

Preserving our community in downtown and beyond -
Stewards Individual Placement Program opens new office space
in Downtown Beckley WV

Thank you for the invitation to be part of your Grand Opening Celebration of your new office space on Prince Street in Downtown Beckley. You have done marvelous work with your partners to bring this historical building in our community back to life.

Thank you for the opportunity to come check out your new space and learn all about the Stewards Programs here in our Southern West Virginia communities and across the country.

We encourage everyone to learn more about the Stewards Individual Placement Program by visiting their new office at 345 Prince Street in Downtown Beckley WV (Dunlap Building) or by visiting them online at stewardslegacy.org or like them on facebook at www.facebook.com/stewardslegacy

ABOUT STEWARDS INDIVIDUAL PLACEMENT PROGRAM - SERVICE IN SUPPORT OF COMMUNITIES & ECOSYSTEMS Stewards Individual Placement Program provides individuals with service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants work with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits building institutional capacity, developing community relationships, and supporting ecosystem health.

Beckley Rotary Club passes Four-Way Test in networking

Thank you Beckley Rotary Club for hosting us at Business After Hours. Your Rotarians and event partners made us feel right at home in networking with you at Beckley’s Historic Black Knight. We know that everyone that attended experienced a very engaging evening of networking thanks to your Rotary Four-Way Test of what you think, say or do:

Guests were able to gather truthful information about Beckley Rotary Club and your partner organizations; A fair game of Monopoly allowed guest to make their way around the room to acquire more chances to win door prizes; Good will and better friendships were the highlight of the evening among those that were already friends and for those that may have met someone new; and finally we know that the because of your networking event there was a awesome benefit for all of networking with area business representatives.

Make sure to find Beckley Rotary Club on the web at www.beckleyrotary.org or like them on facebook so you can learn about all that It means to be a member of the Beckley Rotary Club

Congratulations Mills Floor Covering and Epoxy & Paint

Thank you everyone that joined us in Sophia WV to welcome a new member and a new business to the community, Mills Floor Covering and Epoxy. We are very excited to be a part of their Grand Opening Celebration as a new store front at 126 West Main Street in Sophia WV.

As a family owned and operated business with over 25 years of service in our community, Mills Floor Covering has a history of providing great service and selection when providing great flooring solutions for any project. Make sure to give them a call at 304-673-8129 to find out how they can help get you covered on your next flooring project. Visit Mills Floor Covering on facebook to see and learn about all that they have to offer.

Thank you for an amazing evening of bluegrass entertainment

Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce was very excited to be a series sponsor for TAMARACK AFTER DARK along with Visit Southern West Virginia and Weathered Ground Brewery featuring two amazing groups; Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out and Long Point String Band in the Governor Hulett C. Smith Theater! We appreciate the SOLD OUT crowd that came out to listen to some wonderful bluegrass music and support this great series presented by TAMARACK: The Best of West Virginia.

Career Day Essay Excellence

Following the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce Education Committee “Career Day” every year students are asked by their teachers to write an essay about their experience at the event and what they learned about the career opportunities and what career they might be thinking about for the future. The Education Committee reviews the essays and selects winners from each school that participates in Career Day. The Essay Awards Reception gives us the chance to recognize our students in front of their parents, teachers and community.

We appreciate our partnership with Raleigh County Schools for in being able to get involved with student career education by offering the Career Day Program each year to area 8th graders.

The BRCCC Education Committee would like to Thank West Virginia University Institute of Technology for their hospitality in hosting the Career Day Essay Awards Reception in their Administration & Extension Services Building Community Auditorium on Neville Street in Downtown Beckley WV.

A huge Thank You goes out to our Awards Reception sponsors for giving us the opportunity to present this event for our Raleigh County 8th grade students:

Appalachian Power Company
Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital
Chick-fil-A Beckley
First Community Bank
Little General Stores
Raleigh General Hospital

Students, teachers, parents, sponsors and other guests were invited to our annual Career Day Essay Awards Reception where we recognize the 8th grade students that submitted winning essays that were written following their participation in Career Day back in the Fall of 2019.

Two students from each middle school were selected as Career Day Essay winners and then there was an Overall winner selected out of all of the essays submitted.